Features
‘Delivering On Promises’: Manchester’s Co-op Live Takes Stock One Year Into Construction
– Co-op Live in Manchester.
Rendering.
One year into the construction of Manchester’s new arena Co-op Live, developer Oak View Group (Pollstar’s parent company) says it has delivered on all promises made with regard to local investments, job creation, sustainability and community commitments.
The construction of what will become the UK’s biggest arena to date began in November 2020. Since then, £150 million ($200 million) in orders have been placed with suppliers across the North West of England, including 9,000 tons of steelwork from a depot in Bolton.
Construction partner BAM is forming the concrete cores off-site, which has taken 630 lorries off the roads, according to a press release from OVG, which goes on to state, that “the use of modern methods of construction for the mechanical and electrical services and plant room installation has saved 50,000 hours of manual work on site, also helping to make the scheme much safer as well as a commitment to local procurement where possible to remove the impact of road haulage.”
The entire construction process is on schedule, as work in the last year has seen 105,000 cubic meters of ground removed and over 1,500 piles installed.
According to the developers, 400 people are currently working on site daily. Over the three-year construction period, the Co-op Live project is expected to directly create over 3,350 full-time jobs. What is more, “Co-op Live’s commitment to local procurement is also supporting thousands of jobs throughout the supply chain in the North West,” the press release continues.
The commitment to the local community has also been demonstrated by Co-op Live’s apprenticeship program, previously reported on. Another program will invite some 300 children on site to learn about construction jobs and opportunities.
Courtesy of Co-op Live – Fern Pritchard is one of the first 10 apprentices employed by Co-op Live.
Pritchard is currently completing her level 6 in project management working on the Co-op Live project, and said, she couldn
Naming rights partner Co-op itself is a Manchester-based retailer. The 23,500-capacity building was given the green light by Manchester City Council in Sept. 2020, and is scheduled to open in 2023.
Mark Donnelly, Chief Operating Officer, OVG International, said: “Co-op Live is already delivering on the promises to bring a huge private investment, thousands of jobs, and new community programmes to Manchester and the North West. We’re still on track for opening in 2023 when we can create even more jobs and eventually bring the world’s best events to this great city.”
Amanda Jennings, Director of Customer Experience, Co-op said: “It is amazing seeing Co-op Live start to emerge from the ground and for us to really start to see how we will be bringing to life Co-op and the venue’s vision. Co-operation across all the partners has been so valuable and enabled us to remain on track, meaning we will soon be able to engage our members, which is so exciting and, we will be able to start giving back to the local community without delay.”
Stuart Prosser, BAM’s Construction Manager, said: “One year in and we are pleased with progress and on track to deliver everything that was promised at the outset. The quality of our collaboration with OVG, CFG and Co-op has been outstanding and are great motivators for my team. Good partnerships can shift mountains and mean we can deliver so much more than just a building, by transforming an area and helping people around it.”